Brake accessory for rolls of toilet paper and the like

ABSTRACT

An accessory for rolls of paper and the like, wherein the accessory includes a means for preventing the paper or other material from being unwound from the roll too quickly, especially after a portion of the material has been removed from the roll.

United States Patent [1 1 Stern 11] 3,770,221 NOV.6,1973

[ BRAKE ACCESSORY FOR ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER AND THE LIKE [76] Inventor:Mitchel Stern, 28 S. 4th St., Camden,

[22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1971 [211 Appl. No.: 191,858

[52] US. Cl. .Q 242/55.2

{51] Int. Cl B65h 19/00 [58] Field of Search 242/55.2, 55.3, 55,53

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,903 l/l955 Montgomery242/55.2

2,889,122 6/1959 McConnell 242/55.2

Primary E xaminerLeonard D. Christian Attorney-Sherman Levy [57]ABSTRACT An accessory for rolls of paper and .the like, wherein theaccessory includes a means for preventing the paper or other materialfrom being 'unwound from the roll too quickly, especially after arportion of the material has been removed from the roll.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll pygmggnnv BIHIS 3.770.221

sum 1 OF 2 IIIIIILIIIIII um- .lmiimlum I. III- BRAKE ACCESSORY FOR ROLLSOF TOILET PAPER AND THE LIKE The present invention relates to rolls ofmaterial, such as rolls of toilet paper, paper towels, tissue paper andthe like, and more particularly to a braking mechanism or restrainingmeans for preventing the paper from being unwound too fast from theroll.

An object of the present invention is to provide an accessory that canbe readily used with the existing holders for rolls of toilet paper orother material, and wherein, in one form of the invention there isprovided spring members that are interposed or positioned between theusual mandrel and the core that supports the roll of paper, so thatsufficient pressure is exerted on the parts to assure that thepaper isdispensed or unwound in the desired manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an accessory forrolls of paper or the like that includes members that can be readilyinstalled or removed from paper holders, and wherein the accessories canbe made in an attractive manner so that they will not detract from thedecor of bathrom fixtures and the like.

A still further object is to provide such an accessory that iseconomical to manufacture and efficient in op eration, and is rugged instructure and fool-proof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification and claims, together with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicatedby like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. 1 isa front elevational view, partly in section, of the paper rollbraking device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a form of the brakingdevice of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a form of adapter.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical view of a brake adapter illustratedassembled in a roll of paper hand towels.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of still another form ofbrake adapter.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of another modification.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 1lll of FIG. 10.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 140f the drawings, the numeral indicates the braking accessory of thepresent invention, and wherein the numeral 21 indicates a holder ofconventional construction that includes end pieces or support members 22as well as a mandrel or roller 23 that has a spring member 24 thereon.The numeral 25 indicates a cylindrical core that has a roll of materialsuch as toilet paper 26 thereon. The numeral 27 indicates a spacebetween the-mandrel 23 and core 25.

As shown in the drawings, a plurality of spring fingers 28 arepositioned in the space 27 between the mandrel 23 and core 25, andthe-spring fingers 28 include undulating or offset portions that engagethe outer surface of the mandrel 23 or inner surface of the core 25 fora purpose to be later described.

The first and second disks 29 and 30 are positioned adjacent the ends ofthe roll of material v26, FIG. 1, and at least one of the disks such asthe disk 30 may have its outer periphery knurled or roughened as at 31so as to facilitate the manual gripping or rotation thereof. The numeral32 indicates teeth on the outer surface of the disk 30, and teeth 32 maybe diamond-shaped and serve to provide a restraining means between thedisk 30 and adjacent end pieces 32 of the paper holder 31. The numeral'33 indicates a plate or retainer which may have its outer peripheryknurled or roughened for facilitating the manual gripping thereof. Thenumeral 34 indicates a flexible bellows as interposed between the plate33 and the disk 29, and the bellows 34 may have a spring member 35therein. Recesses 36 are adapted to be provided in the end pieces 22 forreceiving therein the ends of pins 37 that may engage the roller 38 ofconventional construction.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated amodified form of adapter or braking accessory that is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 39 for use with the roll of paper or othermaterial 26 having a cylindrical core 25 therein. The device of FIGS. 5and 6 includes a pair of tapered cones 40 which have a plurality ofspaced parallel ribs 41 on the outer surface thereof for snugly engagingthe inner surface of the core 25. A disk or flange portion 42 on thecones 40 have teeth 43 on the outer surface for engaging the end piece22 serve the same purpose as the previously described teeth 32. As shownin FIG. 5 for example, the inner end portion of the cones 40 may berecessed or cut away as at 44 for the cones, and the cones are adaptedto fit over inner roller 45 of conventional construction. The numeral 46indicates the usual pins or shafts which are adapted to be received inrecesses 47 of the end piece 42.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modifiedbraking accessory 50 for use with a roll of material such as anelongated roll of paper towels mounted on a cylindrical core 49. In FIG.7 a pair of cones 40 project into the ends of the core 49, and the disks42 on the outer end portions of the cone 40 are adapted to be receivedin recessed portions 51 of end pieces 52 of a paper holder 53.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, wherein thenumeral 54 indicates another form of brake adapter or accessory that isshown being used with a roll of material 55 and a cylindrical cone 56.The accessory 54 includes a pair of knurled or roughened disks 57 thatare arranged adjacentto end pieces 58 of a paper roller 59. v

The numerals 60 and 61 indicate telescopically mounted sleeves ofdifferent diameters, and the larger sleeve 60 has spaced apart ribs 62thereon for engaging the inner surface of the core 56. The numeral 63indicates an inner roller assembly that includes adjustably connected ortelescopic members 64 and 65 that have a coil spring 66 associatedtherewith. I

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings, the numeral 67indicates a further modified braking accessory for use with a paperholder 69 that has end pieces or arms 68, and in FIGS. 10 and 11 thenumeral 70 indicates a roll of paper or other material that is mountedon an inner roller assembly 73. The numeral 72 indicates a plurality ofradially disposed flange portions or slat portions that provide arestraining means for preventing the material from unwinding too fast,especially when the roll 70 has been partially used.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided abraking accessory for rolls of toilet paper and the like, and in usewith the parts shown in FIGS. 1 4 of the drawings, the device 20 of thepresent invention may be used with a roll 26 of toilet paper, and withthe parts in that position the spring fingers 28 are positioned betweenthe mandril 23 and the core 25 in such a manner that a slight pressureis exerted on these parts. Thus this will have the effect of preventingthe paper from unwinding too fast, especially when the roll of paper ispartially used up. In addition, the members such as the disk 30 and theplate 33 have the outer knurled or roughened peripheries which may bereadily manually grasped in order to rotate to adjust the parts. Thedisks such as the disk 30 have projections or teeth 32 on the outersurfaces for engaging the adjacent surfaces of the members 22 so thatincreased resistance will be provided to help prevent undesired shift orrotating relative to the end pieces and the like. The outer ends of thespring fingers 28 are formed integral with or secured to the members 29and 30. Also, in FIG. 1 the bellows-like or telescopic member 34 isprovided for helping to maintain the parts in their proper position. Inthe modified device 39 shown in FIGS. and 6 a pair of cone-shapedmembers 40 are provided. The cones 40 have a tapered formation so thatthey will snugly engage the inner surface of the core 25. As shown inthe drawings, the disks 42 have teeth 43 for engaging the end piece 22to help maintain the parts in proper position. The cut-away portions 44provide the desired amount of the roller 45 to be properly receivedwithin the cones 40.

In the modified form 50 shown in FIG. 7, instead of a roll of toiletpaper being supported, an elongated roll of paper towels or the like 48can be accommodated, and in this arrangement a pair of cones 40 engagethe ends of the roller as shown in the drawings. The disk 42 on the endsof the cone 40 may be snugly received in recessed portions 51 ofportions 52.

In FIGS. 8 and a telescopic arrangement of the brake accessory is shown,and wherein sleeves 60 and 61 project into the core 56 of the roll 55,and the ribs 62 engage the inner surface of the core 56.

In the modification of FIGS. and 11, the flange portions 71 help providea restraining means for preventing the roll of paper 70 from unwindingtoo fast, especially when the roll is partially used.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and f in different shapesor sizes, as desired or required.

It will therefore be seen that the present invention provides a slightbraking effect for a roll of paper, such as a roll of toilet paper, soas to slow down the momenturn of the roll when sheets or portions arebeing torn off. While the present invention has been described inconnection with a roll of toilet paper, it is to be understood that itis applicable to rolls of any other material besides toilet paper, suchas tissue paper, rolls of materials used in kitchens or the like. Thus,the present invention prevents the material or paper from coming off toofast.

When installing the device, the metal or wood roller or mandril isadapted to be compressed at one end and slipped into the holes of theceramic or metal toilet paper roll holder. The accordian' like orbellows member 34 shown in FIG. 1 may be reinforced with an insidespring member 35, if necessary, and will serve to create the requiredpressure to hold the toilet paper roll firmly in its present metal orceramic support. The knurled peripheral surfaces of the disks permit thedisks to be readily manually rotated or revolved when a new toilet paperroll is placed in the container. The surfaces of the disks against theholders may be provided with diamond-shaped spiral configurations orteeth to provide a resistance to prevent the rollfrom turning tooeasily, and this is especially advantageous as the toilet paper rollreaches the one-half or. threefourths mark and starts to move easily.The fingers 28 may be made of a suitable material such as plastic andhold the roll of paper to the inside roller or mandril firmly in thedesired manner, or a pair of similar accessories can be used on oppositeends of the roll of paper. Because the roll may be slightly difficult toturn when the roll is full, the knurled outer surface of the disksfacilitates the manual rotation of the parts at this time.

The prongs or fingers 28 have an offset construction so as to permit thedevice to accommodate different sizes or diameters of mandrils and rollsof paper.

The present invention will thus hold back the free flow of toilettissues especially when the roll is nearing the end. The device providessufficient friction against the sides of the holders, as .previouslystated.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. In a brake accessory for a roll of paper and the like, a holderincluding a pair of spaced apart end pieces, a roller having a springmember therein, a cylindrical core mounted on said roller, and said corehaving a roll of material thereon, there. being a space between saidroller and core, a plurality of spring fingers positioned between saidroller and core, first and second disks positioned adjacent the ends ofthe roll of mate-' rial, and said disks having said spring fingersaffixed thereto, a plate adjacent one of the end pieces of said holder,and a bellows interposed between said plate and the adjacent disk.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring fingersinclude a plurality of offset portions.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said disks havetheir outer periphery knurled.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1, and further including teeth oncertain of said disks.

4! I! t l i

1. In a brake accessory for a roll of paper and the like, a holderincluding a pair of spaced apart end pieces, a roller having a springmember therein, a cylindrical core mounted on said roller, and said corehaving a roll of material thereon, there being a space between saidroller and core, a plurality of spring fingers positioned between saidroller and core, first and second disks positioned adjacent the ends ofthe roll of material, and said disks having said spring fingers affixedthereto, a plate adjacent one of the end pieces of said holder, and abellows interposed between said plate and the adjacent disk.
 2. Thestructure as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring fingers include aplurality of offset portions.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 1,wherein at least said disks have their outer periphery knurled.
 4. Thestructure as defined in claim 1, and further including teeth on certainof said disks.